Roy Roberts was born on January 20, 1898 to parents Stuart and Carrie Roberts in Gilmer, Texas. His family moved to Glenwood, Pike County, Arkansas in 1909. Upon graduating high school, Roberts enrolled at Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, Clark County, Arkansas. In 1918 during World War I, he enlisted in the Army Medical Corps, and returned home in August of 1919. In the fall upon returning home, Roberts enrolled in the College of Agriculture of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. There he met his future wife Edgar Lyday and on August 22, 1922 they married. After college Roberts and his wife moved to Choctaw, Van Buren County, Arkansas where he was offered a job as a teacher. Roberts' first child Claudia Caroline Roberts was born in July of 1923. In 1927, Roberts was named Master Teacher of agriculture for Arkansas. A year later in February, his son Roy W. Roberts Jr. was born.

In July of 1929, the family moved to Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas where Roberts became a full-time member of the Department of Agriculture Education. After a couple of years teaching, Roberts later went on to earn a Doctorate in Philosophy in 1934 from Cornell University. Roberts continued to teach Agriculture at the University, and became Professor Emeritus of Vocational Education upon retiring in 1965. Roberts has written several books including a textbook titled: Vocational and Practical Arts Education: History, Development, and Principles, (New York, Harper & Row). Roberts remained at his home in Fayetteville until his death on October 9, 1996.